Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will coordinate with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure a cross-Government approach to supporting foster care, particularly in providing educational support to children in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38413/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Educational Welfare Service is one of the three strands of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation, and retention.

In September 2023, a specialist post of Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) for children in care was established in TESS. This post is funded by my Department and aims to support the ongoing education of children in care. As part of Budget 2024, my Department provided additional resources to TESS which will allow for the appointment of an additional EWO for children in care.

The EWO for children in care works with Social Workers, Social Care Workers, local TESS staff, and schools to ensure that children and young people who move in their care placement are supported to access school places quickly in order to minimise gaps in their education.

My Department's Home Tuition Grant Scheme is a short-term measure available to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. It is an interim measure for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not currently available and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement.

My Department operates four categories of home tuition, one of which is the Children in Care (CIC) Home Tuition Scheme ) . A referral for a child without a school place is prioritised by the EWS and an EWO is assigned immediately to the case.